A local disability service head has echoed calls from others in the sector for funding certainty after the federal government said it would back away from a plan to fully pay for the National Disability Insurance Scheme through a rise in the Medicare levy.
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The government has indicated extra revenue meant it would not have to raise the Medicare levy by 0.5 per cent.
In the lead up to the budget the government was backing away from a plan it announced last year, with treasurer Scott Morrison arguing the NDIS could now be fully funded without raising taxes.
The news had triggered uncertainty within the sector, who believed last years’ announcement had put any uncertainty about NDIS funding to rest.
Golden City Support Service’s CEO Ian McLean said he agreed with the National Disability Services’ Ken Baker, who said the government needed to confirm how it intended to ensure full funding beyond doubt.
"Implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme has not been smooth,” Dr Baker said.
“The operating environment has presented major obstacles and the pricing continues to be inadequate to allow for high-quality disability services.
"The disability community needs certainty for NDIS funding so we can get on with the job of fixing implementation issues to ensure the scheme will deliver on its great promise for people with disability."
Mr McLean said the government needed to go as far as they could to remove uncertainty around the reform process.
He said many in the sector had welcomed last year’s announcement and now wished for that same certainty to be injected back into the formula.
He said the government’s latest shift would not directly affect local services families who were already receiving the NDIS because there was enough funding to cover services over the next few years.
“But full roll-out is just around the corner. Every area in Australia will be eligible to apply for NDIS funding,” Mr McLean said.
“It needs that certainty the funding is there, because otherwise families get left wondering. That wondering doesn’t have to be there for people.”
Speaking to reporters earlier today, treasurer Scott Morrison said the NDIS was fully funded and guaranteed by the Turnbull government.